Violin-peg



H. DORRELL.

VIOLIN PEG.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, I919.

1,328,824, Patented Jun. 27, 1920.

INVENTOR- UNITED STATES PATENT UFFIQE.

HARRY DOERELL, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

VIOLIN-PEG.

Application filed April 14, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY Donnnnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmproven'ients in Violin-Pegs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in violin pegs.

The object of my invention is to produce a tapered peg adhering to the common and ancient form, and relate it to the box portion of the violin head in a manner to produce a permanent frictional relation therebetween that will not require, in ordinary tuning, any other manipulation of the peg except that of turning it on its axis.

My invention consists in the application of tension devices that will serve when applied to the peg after a normal frictional relation has been established between the peg and its support in the box portion of the violin head, to maintain such frictional re,- lation, whereby no lateral shifting of the peg will be necessary, and including within the functions of the related parts a capability of adjustment or laterally moving the peg for the purpose of taking up any wear or lost motion.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a violin head, showing violin pegs supported therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same matter that is shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view showing in section a portion of the box of a violin head, and also showing the manner of relating a peg thereto, the peg being broken away-to show details of construction of parts or devices that are applied to the peg;

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing a threaded sleeve, or stud member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bearing member;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a head member with attached sleeve.

Fig. 7 is a detail View showing a screw member.

It is my purpose to produce violin. pegs or keys to be used to hold a desired tension or pitch of strings, wherein modification over the normal peg is made, but at the same time maintaining the appearance in every respect of that of the ancient and familiarly known violin peg, but adding useful and serviceable parts. I maintain this ancient Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 285,958.

appearance because tradition and sentiment all tend to a desire to maintain original conditions and appearances with respect to violins, which desire is demonstrated by the fact that practically no change has been made in violins or the pegs used therewith for two hundred years.

Referring to the drawings, A is what is known as a violin head; B is the key box therein. C refers generally to a key or violin peg that is in conformity with what is known as the normal peg. In practice, keys as C are secured in tapered key seats D in the violin head.

Referring now, particularly to my invention, 2 is a longitudinal opening in the small end of the peg Within which is seated the stud 3, the same being secured in place by means of pin 4, which passes through a transverse perforation therein, said pin being supported in a similar transverse opening in the peg. Stud 3 is provided with a longitudinal opening 5, the same being at least partially threaded. This stud is designed to extend outwardly until it is flush with the end of the peg. Stud 3 is designed to be flattened as at 6 for purposes hereinafter described.

I have provided means for securing the peg in position relative to its supporting openings in box B and for producing the clesired friction, consisting of a ferrule 7 (see Fig. 6) having a flattened end portion 8, said ferrule being adapted to be passed over the end of stud 3 with the flattened portion 8 thereof engaging the flattened portion 6 of the said stud 3. Ferrule 7 is provided with an end cap 9, the same being centrally perforated as at 10. I have provided a washer as 11, the same being ofiset or shouldered as at 12, adapted to be seated within and about the opening in one of the side walls of the box portion of the violin head. When the ferrule 7 is applied, it has a bearing against washer 11. 13 is a screw provided with a head portion 14. Screw 13 is designed to be entered through the opening 10 in cap 9, on ferrule 7 and to enter the threaded opening in stud 3 to the end that peg or key C, after having first been set, by manipulation by the fingers of the user of the instrument, to es:

tablish the proper tension, it may be fixed with respect to tension through the manipulation of screw 13 with relation to stud 3, whereby a permanent tension is established, and lateral displacement of the peg is prevented. It is perfectly obvious that any wear or lost motion resulting from use of the peg may be readily taken up by manipulation of screw 13.

In the use and application of my improved peg, it is first inserted within the supporting openings in the violin head in a no wise different manner "from the use of ordinary violin pegs; that is, the peg is thrust into the hole in the violin box by an inward and screw like pressure, to wedge or tighten it in the violin head or peg box. In the use of ordinary violin pegs, to maintain this friction, while turning the peg in either direction (to tighten or loosen the string) the player must be depended upon to apply the necessary pressure, and the sligh'est variation from the exact required tension will result in the strings becoming loose, where as, by the use of my improvement, when the peg is first properly set, it may be fixed with respect to tension so that the operator is not depended upon except in the initial setting to maintain this exact required tension.

In carrying out my invention, it is designed that the exact form of what is known as a normal peg shall be maintained, to the end that its appearance shall be that of a normal peg, and that tradition and sentiment with respect to this desired permanence of appearance shall be maintained.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a Violin head having a peg box having key ways therein, a tapered key supported in controlled frictional impingement of the key ways in the head, its

outer end spaced from the outer wall of the eg box, a bearing member centered about the outlet of the keyway of the outside wall of the peg box, an extension member spaced from the end 01' the main body of the key and connected therewith and relatively adjustable to permit variable spacing, and adjusting means for eliecting such relative spacing, whereby relative lengthwise spacing of the key and key extension may be had.

2. In combination, a violin provided with a peg box having keyways therein, a tapered key supported in controlled frictional impingement of the ke nvays in the head, its outer end spaced from the outer wall of the peg box, a bearing member centered about the outlet of the key way in the outside wall of the peg box, an extension member adjustably related to the key and forming a part thereof, having a bearing relation upon the bearing member and means for variable longitudinal spacing of the key with relation to the key extension for shifting the former for tightening or loosening the same in its support in the keyway, whereby variation of frictional engagement between the key and keyway may be had without extending the key end beyond the outside wall of the key box, and whereby the appearance of an ordinary key is maintained.

in testimony whereof I have allixed my signature.

HARRY DORRELL. 

